Chad Stadem has been named head football coach at Washington High School, replacing Brian Hermanson, who resigned after leading the Warriors to the Class 11AA state championship in 2012.

Stadem, a 1990 Dell Rapids High School graduate and University of Sioux Falls graduate, won state Class 11B titles at Howard in 2004 and at Flandreau in 2010.

“I’m a competitor, and sometimes you need new challenges,” said Stadem, who has a career record of 71-30. “I wanted to compete at the highest level (in South Dakota), and this definitely qualifies.”

Stadem will take over a program that Hermanson led to three Class 11AA titles over his last four years, winning 47 of 50 games during that span.
“It’s very unique what he accomplished,” said Stadem. “I’m not Brian Hermanson, and I don’t expect to be. He was very successful and built his system on relationships. I’m just going to work hard and try to continue what he built.”

Stadem has coached and taught for 13 years. He will teach social studies and personal finance at Washington.